U.S. patent application number 10/687934 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for water cutoff structure of covered wire.
This patent application is currently assigned to YAZAKI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Ide, Tetsuro, Takayama, Tsutomu.
Application Number | 20040163729 10/687934 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32096719 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040163729 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ide, Tetsuro ; et
al. |
August 26, 2004 |
Water cutoff structure of covered wire
Abstract
In a water cutoff structure of a covered wire according to the
invention, a water cutoff portion of an upper side member of a
water cutoff member is formed in a recessed shape which is a shape
of a curved face along an outer shape of the covered wire. Further,
a water cutoff portion of a lower side member is formed in a
projected shape in correspondence with the water cutoff portion in
the recessed shape and the projected shape is a shape of a curved
face in a projected shape in correspondence with the shape of the
curved face of the water cutoff portion in the recessed shape.
Inventors: |
Ide, Tetsuro; (Shizuoka,
JP) ; Takayama, Tsutomu; (Shizuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
YAZAKI CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
32096719 |
Appl. No.: |
10/687934 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 30/14 20180101;
H01B 7/28 20130101; Y10T 29/49201 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/129 |
International
Class: |
B67C 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 18, 2002 |
JP |
P2002-304343 |
Oct 18, 2002 |
JP |
P2002-304344 |
Oct 21, 2002 |
JP |
P2002-306102 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A water cutoff structure of a covered wire, in which a first and
second members made of a resin are attached on the covered wire by
ultrasonic welding to thereby provide water cutoff, comprising: the
first and second members including a first water cutoff portion and
a second water cutoff portion respectively, each of which is welded
to core lines provided in the covered wire by ultrasonic welding;
at least a part of the first water cutoff portion of the first
member being formed in a recessed shape; and at least a part of the
second water cutoff portion of the second member being formed in a
projected shape in correspondence with the shape of the first water
cutoff portion.
2. The water cutoff structure according to claim 1, wherein the
first water cutoff portion includes a first curved face along an
outer shape of the covered wire and the second water cutoff
portions includes a second curved face in correspondence with the
first curved face of the first water cutoff portion.
3. The water cutoff structure according to claim 1, wherein each of
the first and second water cutoff portions includes a recessed face
and a projected face which are aligned in a longitudinal direction
of the covered wire.
4. The water cutoff structure according to claim 3, wherein the
recessed face of the first water cutoff portion is formed in a
shape of a first curved face along an outer shape of the covered
wire and the projected face of the second cutoff portion is formed
in a shape of a second curved face in correspondence with the first
curved face of the first water cutoff portion.
5. The water cutoff structure according to claim 3, wherein the
first and second water cutoff portions haves substantially
identical shape.
6. The water cutoff structure according to claim 1, wherein the
first and second water cutoff members are connected to each other
with a hinge.
7. The water cutoff structure according to claim 1, further
comprising a third member including a third water cutoff portion
which is welded to core lines provided in the covered wire by
ultrasonic welding, wherein the first cutoff member includes the
first water cutoff portions on opposite side surfaces so that the
first member and the third member are attached to another covered
wire by ultrasonic welding.
8. The water cutoff structure according to claim 7, wherein the
opposite first water cutoff portions, the second water cutoff
portion and the third water cutoff portion are aligned so that the
covered wires are attached at the same time in one ultrasonic
process.
Description
[0001] The present application is based on Japanese Patent
Applications Nos. 2002-304343, 2002-304344 and 2002-306102, the
entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a structure of a covered
wire for providing water cutoff to the covered wire by sandwiching
the covered wire constituted by covering core lines by a water
cutoff member made of a resin to subject to ultrasonic welding.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] In reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, in a related art, there
is a water cutoff structure of a covered wire 30 for carrying out a
water cutoff processing by sandwiching the covered wire 30 by a
pair of upper and lower water cutoff members 31 made of a resin in
FIG. 12 and applying an ultrasonic wave from an upper side of FIG.
12 of the water cutoff member 31 by an ultrasonic welding horn 32
to thereby weld the water cutoff member 31 to core lines of the
covered wire 30 (refer to Japanese Patent Publications Nos.
JP-A-7-320842 and JP-A-11-250952).
[0006] Each of the water cutoff members 31 is formed to be larger
than a widening width of the core lines of the covered wire 30
after ultrasonic welding. Thereby, in ultrasonic welding, the
molten resin of the respective water cutoff members 31 is filled
among the core lines of the covered wire 30 to ensure a water
cutoff function.
[0007] According to the above-described water cutoff structure of
the covered wire 30 of the related art, with an increase in a size
of the covered wire 30 to be subjected to water cutoff, also a size
of the water cutoff member 31 needs to increase in direct
proportion thereto. Therefore, there poses a problem that
downsizing thereof is difficult.
[0008] Further, when a small water cutoff member is used to achieve
downsizing, there poses a problem that crack is liable to cause and
a sufficient water cutoff function cannot be achieved.
[0009] Further, there poses a problem that time is taken in
ultrasonic welding and an increase in cost is unavoidable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide a water cutoff
structure of a covered wire capable of achieving to downsize a
water cutoff member, capable of firmly carrying out a water cutoff
processing of a covered electric water and capable of reducing cost
by shortening welding time.
[0011] A water cutoff structure of a covered wire according to the
invention is characterized in that in a water cutoff structure of a
covered wire for providing water cutoff to the covered wire by
sandwiching the covered wire constituted by covering core lines by
a pair of water cutoff members made of a resin to subject to
ultrasonic welding, each of the water cutoff members is provided
with a water cutoff portion welded to the core lines of the covered
wire by ultrasonic welding, the cutoff portion of either one of the
water cutoff members is formed in a recessed shape and the water
cutoff portion of other of the water cutoff members is formed in a
projected shape in correspondence with the water cutoff portion in
the recessed shape.
[0012] According to the water cutoff structure of the covered wire
having the above-described constitution, the covered wire to be
subjected to water cutoff is sandwiched between the water cutoff
portions of the respective water cutoff members under the state,
the water cutoff member is subjected to excitation of ultrasonic
oscillation under the state. The oscillated water cutoff member
welds the water cutoff portion to the covered wire by ultrasonic
welding. Thereby, the respective covered wire is subjected to the
water cutoff processing.
[0013] In the ultrasonic welding, the ultrasonic welding is carried
out such that the core lines of the covered wire are spread along
the respective water cutoff portions in the recessed shape and in
the projected shape. Therefore, the ultrasonic oscillation is easy
to transmit to the covered wire, an operational time period is
shortened, it is not necessary to increase a size of the water
cutoff member to be large in direct proportion to a size of the
covered wire and downsizing can be achieved.
[0014] Further, it is preferable that the water cutoff portion in
the recessed shape is formed in a shape of a curved face along an
outer shape of the covered wire and the water cutoff portion in the
projected shape is formed in a shape of a curved face in
correspondence with the shape of the curved face of the water
cutoff portion in the recessed shape.
[0015] According to the water cutoff structure of the covered wire
having the above-described constitution, in ultrasonic welding, the
ultrasonic welding is carried out such that the core lines of the
covered wire are spread along the water cutoff portions in the
recessed shape and in the projected shape which are shapes of
curved faces along an outer shape of the covered wire.
[0016] Therefore, the ultrasonic oscillation is easy to transmit to
the covered wire, the operational time period is shortened, it is
not necessary to increase the size of the water cutoff member in
direct proportion to the size of the covered wire and downsizing
can be achieved.
[0017] In the invention, the recessed face and the projected face
of the water cutoff portion may formed to align in the longitudinal
direction of the covered wire, the core lines of the covered wire
are deformed in a recessed and projected shape in the longitudinal
direction and therefore, a force of adhering the covered wire and
the cutoff member is increased. Therefore, a force of fixedly
attaching the electric wire is increased and the water cutoff
function is further promoted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view showing a water
cutoff structure of a covered wire according to a first embodiment
of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state after
subjecting the water cutoff structure of FIG. 1 to ultrasonic
welding;
[0020] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate sectional views of the water
cutoff structure of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an upper side member of
a water cutoff member of the water cutoff structure of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lower side member of
the water cutoff member of the water cutoff structure of FIG.
1;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a disassembled perspective view showing a water
cutoff structure of a covered wire according to a second embodiment
of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state after
subjecting the water cutoff structure of FIG. 6 to ultrasonic
welding;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A of the
water cutoff structure of FIG. 6;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line B-B of the
water cutoff structure of FIG. 6;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line C-C of the
water cutoff structure of FIG. 6;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a perspective showing a water cutoff member of
the water cutoff structure of FIG. 6;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a disassembled perspective view showing a water
cutoff structure of a related art; and
[0030] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state after
subjecting the water cutoff structure of FIG. 12 to ultrasonic
welding.
[0031] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a water cutoff
structure of covered wires in an opening state according to a third
embodiment of the invention;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the water cutoff
structure of FIG. 14 in a closed state; and
[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the water cutoff
structure of FIG. 14 in the closed state in which the covered wires
are held.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] First Embodiment
[0035] An explanation will be given of the first embodiment of a
water cutoff structure of a covered wire according to the invention
in reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 as follows. FIG. 1 is a
disassembled perspective view showing a water cutoff structure of a
covered wire according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2
is a perspective view showing a state after subjecting the water
cutoff structure of FIG. 1 to ultrasonic welding. Further, FIGS. 3A
and 3B illustrate sectional views of the water cutoff structure of
FIG. 1: FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG.
1 showing a state before sandwiching the covered wire and FIG. 3B
is a sectional view taken along a line B-B of FIG. 2 showing a
state of subjecting the covered wire to ultrasonic welding. FIG. 4
is a perspective view showing an upper side member of a water
cutoff member of the water cutoff structure of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is
a perspective view showing a lower side member of the water cutoff
member of the water cutoff structure of FIG. 1.
[0036] In reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, in a water cutoff
structure of a covered wire 10, water cutoff members 20 made of a
resin are constituted by an upper side member 21 and a lower side
member 22 and carry out a water cutoff processing to the covered
wire 10 by exciting an ultrasonic wave from upper sides of FIG. 2,
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B by an ultrasonic welding horn in a state of
sandwiching the covered wire 10 constituted by covering core lines
10a (FIGS. 3A and 3B) between the upper side member 21 and the
lower side member 22.
[0037] The upper side member 21 and the lower side member 22 of the
water cutoff members 20 are respectively formed with pairs of wire
guide grooves 21a and 22a for guiding the covered wire 10 at twos
of left and right side faces in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 and are provided
with water cutoff portions 21b and 22b to be subjected to
ultrasonic welding with the core lines 10a of the covered wire 10
substantially at centers between the respective wire guide grooves
21a and 22a.
[0038] The water cutoff portion 21b of the upper side member 21 is
formed in a recessed shape which is a shape of a curved face along
an outer shape of the covered wire. Further, the water cutoff
portion 22b of the lower side member 22 is formed in a projected
shape in correspondence with the water cutoff portion 21b in the
recessed shape and the projected shape is a shape of a curved face
in a projected shape in correspondence with the shape of the curved
face of the water cutoff portion 21b in the recessed shape.
[0039] Operation of the embodiment will be explained.
[0040] In the water cutoff structure of the covered wire 10, the
water cutoff members 20 make the covered wire 10 to be subjected to
water cutoff disposed between the upper side member 21 and the
lower side member 22, guides the covered wire 10 to the respective
wire guide grooves 21a and 22a of the upper side member 21 and the
lower side member 22 and sandwiches the covered electric 10 between
the water cutoff portion 21b of the upper side member 21 and the
water cutoff portion 22b of the lower side member 22 (refer to FIG.
3A).
[0041] Under the state, the water cutoff members 20 are subjected
to ultrasonic oscillation by the ultrasonic welding horn from the
upper side on upper faces of the upper side member 21 and the lower
side member 22 in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3A and 3B. The oscillated water
cutoff members 20 melt the cover of the covered wire 10 sandwiched
between the water cutoff portion 21b of the upper side member 21
and the water cutoff portion 22b of the lower side member 22 and
also melts the respective water cutoff portions 21b and 22b to
thereby weld the respective core lines 10a of the covered wire 10
to the respective water cutoff portions 21b and 22b (refer to FIG.
3B). Thereby, the covered wire 10 is subjected to the water cutoff
processing for cutting off water invading via intervals among the
core lines 10a.
[0042] In ultrasonic welding, the core lines 10a of the covered
wire 10 are welded to spread along the respective water cutoff
portions 21b and 22b in the recessed shape and the projected shape
which are the shapes of the curved faces along the outer shape of
the covered wire 10 (refer to FIG. 3B).
[0043] Therefore, the ultrasonic oscillation is easy to transmit to
the covered wire 10 and an operational time period is shortened, it
is not necessary to increase a dimension W in the width direction
of the water cutoff members 20 in direct proportion to the size of
the covered wire 10 and downsizing is achieved. In other words, the
dimension W in the width direction of the upper side member 21 and
the lower side member 22 can be set to be comparatively small
relative to the size of the covered wire 10.
[0044] As described above, according to the embodiment, the water
cutoff portion 21b of the upper side member 21 is formed in the
recessed shape which is the shape of the curved face along the
outer shape of the covered wire and the water cutoff portion 22b of
the lower side member 22 is formed in the projected shape in
correspondence with the water cutoff portion 21b in the recessed
shape and the projected shape is the shape of the curved face in
the projected shape in correspondence with the shape of the curved
face of the water cutoff portion 21b in the recessed shape.
[0045] Therefore, even when the size of the covered wire 10 to be
subjected to water cutoff is large, the water cutoff processing of
the covered wire 10 can firmly be carried out while being capable
of achieving downsizing and space saving formation by setting the
dimension W in the width direction of the water cutoff members 20
to be comparatively small. Further, the ultrasonic oscillation is
easy to transmit to the covered wire 10, shortening of a welding
time period can be achieved and cost can be reduced.
[0046] Second Embodiment
[0047] An explanation will be given of a second embodiment of a
water cutoff structure of a covered wire according to the invention
in reference to FIG. 6 through FIG. 11 as follows. FIG. 6 is a
disassembled perspective view showing a water cutoff structure of a
covered wire according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG. 7
is a perspective view showing a state after subjecting the water
cutoff structure of FIG. 6 to ultrasonic welding. Further, FIG. 8
illustrates sectional views of the water cutoff structure of FIG.
6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line B-B of FIG. 6. FIG.
10 is a sectional view taken along a line C-C of FIG. 6. FIG. 11 is
a perspective view showing an upper side member of a water cutoff
member of the water cutoff structure of FIG. 6 and FIG. 10is a
perspective view showing the water cutoff member of the water
cutoff structure of FIG. 6.
[0048] Similarly to the first embodiment, the second embodiment, as
shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, provides a water cutoff structure
of the covered wire 10. Water cutoff members 20 made of a resin
carry out a water cutoff processing to the covered wire 10 by
exciting an ultrasonic wave from upper sides of FIG. 6 by an
ultrasonic welding horn in a state of sandwiching the covered wire
10 having covering core lines 10a (FIGS. 8 through 10) with the
upper and lower water cutoff members 20.
[0049] On left and right sides of each water cutoff member 120, as
shown in FIG. 11, a pair of wire guide grooves 121a and 122a are
respectively formed for guiding the covered wire 10. A water cutoff
portion 121 to be subjected to ultrasonic welding with the core
lines 10a of the covered wire 10 is provided with substantially at
centers between the wire guide grooves 121a and 122a.
[0050] The water cutoff portion 121 is formed by aligning a
recessed face 121a and a projected face 121b in a longitudinal
direction of the covered wire 10. The recessed face 121a of the
water cutoff portion 121 is formed by a shape of a curved shape
along an outer shape of the covered wire 10. Further, the projected
face 121b of the water cutoff portion 121 is formed by a shape of a
curved face in correspondence with the shape of the curved face of
the recessed face 121a.
[0051] In the second embodiment, in addition to the advantages of
the first embodiment, the recessed face 121a and the projected face
121b of the water cutoff portion 121 are formed to align in the
longitudinal direction of the covered wire 10, the core lines 10a
of the covered wire 10 are deformed in a recessed and projected
shape in the longitudinal direction (refer to FIG. 10) and
therefore, a force of adhering the covered wire 10 and the cutoff
member 120 is increased. Therefore, a force of fixedly attaching
the electric wire is increased and the water cutoff function is
further promoted.
[0052] Further, it is not necessary to change the shapes of the
respective water cutoff members 120 between the upper part and the
lower part in FIG. 6. For example, a pair of the water cutoff
members 120 having the same shape can commonly be served for mating
to each other. Thus, it is not necessary to prepare many kinds of
the water cutoff members 120 having different shapes, the water
cutoff member 120 can be used without discriminating a shape or the
like in operation and shortening of an operational time period can
be achieved. Thereby, cost can be reduced.
[0053] Third Embodiment
[0054] An explanation will be given of a third embodiment of a
water cutoff structure of covered wires according to the invention
in reference to FIG. 14 through FIG. 16 as follows. FIG. 14 is a
perspective view showing the water cutoff structure in an opening
state according to a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 15 is
a perspective view showing the water cutoff structure of FIG. 14 in
a closed state. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the water
cutoff structure of FIG. 14 in the closed state in which the
covered wires are held.
[0055] In a water cutoff structure of this embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 14 though FIG. 16, water cutoff members 220 are constituted by
a first member 221, second member 222 and third member 223 and
carry out a water cutoff to two covered wires 10 by exciting an
ultrasonic welding horn in a vertical direction of FIGS. 15 and 16,
in a state of sandwiching the covered wires 10 including core lines
with wire welding grooves 221a, 221b, 222a and 223a of the first
through third member 221, 222, 223, respectively.
[0056] The second member 222 is integrally connected to a side
surface of the first member 221 (located on front side of the sheet
in FIG. 14) with a hinge 224 so as be swingable to the first member
221. The second member 222 has the wire welding groove 222a and a
water cutoff portion 222b on a mating side surface of the second
member 222 which opposes to the side face of the first member 221
when the second member 222 is swung so as to mate to the first
member 221. The wire welding groove 222a and the water cutoff
portion 222b have the identical shapes to a wire welding groove
221a and a water cutoff portion 221c of the first member 221,
respectively.
[0057] Similarly, the third member 223 is integrally connected to
another side surface of the first member 221 (located on rear side
of the sheet in FIG. 14) with a hinge 225 so as be swingable to the
first member 221. The third member 223 has the wire welding groove
223a and a water cutoff portion (not shown) on a mating side
surface of the third member 223 which opposes to the another
surface of the first member 221 when the third member 223 is swung
so as to mate to the first member 221. The wire welding groove 223a
and the water cutoff portion have the identical shapes to a wire
welding groove 221b and a water cutoff portion (not shown) of the
first member 221, respectively.
[0058] Incidentally, although the water cutoff portions 221c, 222b
etc. are illustrated with flat faces in this embodiment, these
portions can be configured to be curved as described in the first
and second embodiment.
[0059] In the water cutoff structure of the invention, two of the
covered wires 10 are received at the wire welding grooves 221a and
221b of the first member 221. Then the second member 222 and the
third member 223 are swung so as to mate to the first member 221
around the hinges 224, 225 respectively. The wires 10 are held
between the wire welding grooves 221a, 221b of the first member 221
and the wire welding grooves 222a, 223a of the second and third
members 222, 223, respectively. In this state, the ultrasonic
welding is conducted in a similar manner as described in the first
and second embodiments, by exciting an ultrasonic welding horn in a
vertical direction of FIGS. 15 and 16.
[0060] In the above water cutoff structure, the water cutoff
process can be performed to two covered wires 10 at the same time.
That is, the water cutoff portions of the first, second and third
members 221, 222, 223 are aligned in a state holding the covered
wires 10. The covered wires 10 are attached at the same time in one
ultrasonic operation with a single pair of the horns. Therefore,
the number of parts for the water cutoff members 220 as well as the
number of steps required for carrying out an ultrasonic welding can
be reduced. As a result, costs for water cutoff process for the
covered wires 10 can be reduced.
[0061] As has been explained, according to the water cutoff
structure of the covered wire of the invention, each of the water
cutoff members is provided with the water cutoff portion to be
welded to the core lines of the covered wire by ultrasonic welding,
the water cutoff portion of either one of the water cutoff members
is formed in a recessed shape and the water cutoff portion of other
of the water cutoff members is formed in the projected shape in
correspondence with the water cutoff portion in the recessed
shape.
[0062] Therefore, downsizing of the water cutoff member can be
achieved, the water cutoff processing of the covered wire can
firmly be carried out and cost can be reduced by achieving to
shorten a welding time period.
[0063] According to the water cutoff structure of a covered wire of
the invention, the water cutoff portion in the recessed shape is
formed by the shape of the curved face along the outer shape of the
covered wire and the water cutoff portion in the recessed shape is
formed in the shape of the curved face in correspondence with the
shape of the curved face of the water cutoff portion in the
recessed shape.
[0064] Therefore, downsizing of the water cutoff member can be
achieved, the water cutoff processing of the covered wire can
firmly be carried out and cost can be reduced by achieving to
shorten the welding time period.
* * * * *